Claire Jarrell

Instructor

Claire grew up in the piedmont region of north Georgia. Surrounded by lush forests, rolling hills and lots of rivers and streams, she discovered her love of nature at a young age looking for salamanders, turtles, and frogs in nearby creeks. Claire earned her bachelor's degree from the University of South Carolina in Geography. While in school, Claire was involved with the Carolina Mountaineering and Whitewater Rafting Club, where she was the Educational Officer leading multiple backpacking trips and outdoor education workshops for fellow students. 

Growing up Claire spent a lot of time hiking and backpacking through the mountains of Western North Carolina, and after graduating college she spent several months living on a start up farm in that region. On the farm, Claire developed a passion for permaculture and wild foraging. Claire has also spent time working as an educator with the Dunwoody Nature Center in Georgia, it was here that she also furthered her education by receiving her Master Naturalist Certification. 

Claire came to Montana in December of 2023 to work as a children's ski instructor with Big Sky Resort, where she has now spent two winters. She is excited to spend her first summer in Montana and can be found exploring new hiking trails with iNaturalist on the ready to identify everything she finds along the way!